Siphon-vacuum steam-heating system.



N. YOUNG & G. E. MARSTON. SIIHON VACUUM STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1914.

l l23,6%3, Patented Jan.5,1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTOLITHD.. WASHI/V GTON. D. c

NATHANIEL YOUNG AND GARDINER E. MARSTON, 0F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SIPHON-VAGUUM STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM.

iaaacia.

Application filed May 7, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NATHANIEL YOUNG and GARDINER E. MARSTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Manchester, New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Siphon-Vacuum Steam-Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a system of steam heating for buildings, and has for its object to provide a device whereby the water of condensation when running out of a radiator will take with it most of the air that is in the radiator, thereby leaving a partial vacuum therein.

The invention consists essentially in having the water of condensation from the radiators above the first floor fall through. a vacuum producing tube to the cellar. The water in falling through the tube carries air with it in the well known manner. Where radiators in a system are on a lower floor where there is not fall enough, we pipe the air from them to a higher floor and lead it to the vacuum producing tube. The falling water then in the tube exhausts the air from all the radiators.

The invention further consists in the con struction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, it being understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to the specific construction shown.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention :Figure 1 shows diagrammatically our improved system. Figs. 2, 2 2 and 2 are sectional detall views of the fittings for the several tubes. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the float trap.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a furnace or boiler for generating the steam. Pipes 2 conduct the steam from the boiler to the radiators 3. Pipes 4:, smaller than the steam pipes, enter the radiators at the bottom and carry away the water of condensation and air. So far as the steam feed pipes 2 are concerned, their arrangement and construction is identical with any heating plant as ordinarily installed.

At some convenient point in the air and water pipes 4:, of each floor of the building except the first, a vacuum fall tube 5 is connected by a fitting A, which extends down to the cellar or basement. There is a separate vacuum tube for each floor excepting the first. Near the second floor vacuum tube Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 837,030.

is a pipe 6, connecting the air pipes 4: of the first floor with those of the second by a fitting B. Near the vacuum tubes 5 is located an overflow pipe 7, extending to the basement from the top floor and connecting with the pipes 4: on each floor by a fitting C. This pipe is preferably of an increasing size as it descends into the basement. While we have said there is a vacuum pipe to each floor, we mean this as a minimum, because there can be a vacuum tube to every 100 feet of radiation on a floor.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which is a detail of the fitting of the vacuum tube on the second floor. The fittings A on the floors above will be similar to this except that there will be no air pipe 6 leading from the first floor. The vacuum tube 5 is very small and is so connected to the pipes 4 that its top is below their bottom as brought out in the figure. In the pipes 4: and situated over the vacuum tube 5 is a nozzle 8 of smaller diameter than the vacuum tube 5, and which terminates in close proximity to the top of that tube. It is provided with openings 9 in each side thereof as shown. The pipe 6 (Fig. 2) leading the air from the first to the second floor projects into the pipes a, as indicated in the fitting B, terminating very near the top thereof. The overflow pipe 7 (Fig. 2*) connects similarly with the pipes 4: by a fitting C but projects only half way into these pipes.

Only one overflow pipe is required for the whole system. The vacuum tubes 5 at their lower ends connect with pipe 10 also, with which is connected the overflow pipe 7. here the overflow pipe 7 connects with the pipe 10 is placed a water seal to prevent any air from escaping up into the overflow pipe. This water seal is produced by a fitting clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein the pipe 7 continues into the pipe 10 so far that the water in the latter will keep the end of the pipe 7 sealed so far as the air is con cerned, but will tend in no way to prevent the exit of any water that may come down in the overflow pipe. 11 indicates a plug for cleaning this water seal in case it becomes clogged. At the end of the pipe 10 are provided means for allowing the air brought down by the vacuum tubes to escape into the atmosphere or to discharge in any suitable place which comprises simply an open end pipe 21. If it is desired to use this system as a pressure system, it is advisable to place a thermo air valve in the discharge to close when steam reaches it but We do not claim this feature. A drip pipe 13 is provided for returning the water of condensation from the first floor to the boiler and connects with the returning water from the other floors at 14.

In the pipe 15 through which the Water of condensation returns to the boiler, it is desirable to place a float trap 16 to prevent the air in pipe 10 being sucked into the boiler when a high vacuum is on the system. This trap is shown in Fig. 3, and consists of a float chamber 17 in which is situated a float l8 having attached thereto a valve 19 located in the pipe leading from the float trap to the base of the boiler.

Inoperation to first heat the house, the boiler is started and the steam circulates as ordinarily. When the fire is allowed to cool down, the steam in the radiator condenses into water. i As is natural, the steam'condenses first on the top floor as it is farthest away from the fire. The water then runs out through the pipe 4 carrying some air with it until it reaches the vacuum tube 5, whence it falls therethrough. The water in flowing down the tube 5 encircles the nozzle 8 and the suction created by its falling will draw air into the openings 9 of the nozzle, which will be carried down the tube by the falling water as is well known. The suction created will not only empty the radiators on each floor of air but, on the second floor will also draw the air from the radiators on the first floor through the pipes 4 on that floor, and up the pipe 6 and into the nozzle at 9'. With the pipe 6 projecting as it does into the fitting of the pipe 4, air is allowed to exit therefrom without permitting any water to flow thereinto and down. If for any reason the vacuum tube 5 should be unable to carry away a sudden flow of water, the pipe 4: would fill up until its level reached the top of the overflow pipe 7, when it would flow thereinto and be conducted away.

The vacuum tube from each floor together with the overflow pipe delivers water and air into the pipe 10. From here the air copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

escapes to the atmosphere while the water is conducted into the float trap. As it fills the float chamber 17 float 18 is lifted with the valve 19, which is connected thereto by link 20, which results in only water passing into the boiler.

e claim 1- 1. A system of steam heating including a boiler, radiators, pipes connecting the radiators to the boiler, a vacuum producing tube or tubes in circuit with the radiators of the system through which the water of condensation in returning to the boiler creates a vacuum in the radiators, a coupling for one of the vacuum tubes, an air pipe 6 leading to the coupling of the vacuum tube from the first floor and having a projecting nipple terminating above the bottom of said vacuum tube, substantially as described.

2. A system of steam heating including a boiler, radiators, pipes connecting the radiators to the boiler, a vacuum producing tube or tubes in circuit with the radiators through which the water of condensation from the radiators of the higher floor in returning to the boiler creates a vacuum in the radiators of both floors, a coupling for the vacuum tubes, and an overflow pipe 7 connecting with the vacuum tubes and projecting upwardly above the bottom thereof, substantially as described.

3. A system of steam heating including a boiler, radiators, pipes connecting the radiators to the boiler, a vacuum producing device in circuit with the radiators on each floor comprising a pipe connecting all the radiators on one floor, a vacuum fall tube connected to said pipe through which the,

water of condensation is adapted to flow and a perforated nozzle depending from said pipe over said tube whereby water falling down the tube carries the air in the radiator circuit with it.

In testimony whereof, we ailix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL YOUNG. GARDINER E. MARSTON. Witnesses ROBERT C. LAING, ARTHUR WV. PHINNEY.

commissioner of Baton", 

